Systematic theology books are plentiful. Almost every theological viewpoint, and every Christian denomination, has a corresponding Systematic Theology book that reflects their positions on different topics of Scripture.
Yet looking at a book’s cover, or even reading the back of it, does not always tell a person what viewpoints are defended inside it.
Systematic Theology books can be expensive, especially multi-volume editions, so it is important for a person to know what they are buying or using to ensure it is the right fit for them.
The Systematic Theology Comparison Chart below is intended to simply the process and point the reader in the right direction for their specific purposes.
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Cover | Author/ Title | Theological Approach | Details | Browse |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Barth, Karl / Church Dogmatics | Swiss Reformed; Neo-Orthodox | 14 volumes | Amazon |
![]() | Bavinck, Herman / Reformed Dogmatics | Dutch Reformed, Calvinistic | 4 volumes; J.I. Packer calls it a “supreme achievement” | Amazon |
![]() | Berkof, Louis / Systematic Theology | Dutch- American Reformed, Calvinistic | former pastor, former professor of Calvin Seminary | Amazon |
![]() | Berkouwer, G.C. / Studies in Dogmatics | Dutch Reformed, Calvinistic | 14 volumes | Amazon |
![]() | Bird, Michael / Evangelical Theology | Evangelical Anglican | argues that the center of theology is the gospel | Amazon |
![]() | Bloesch, Donald / Christian Foundations | Referred to himself as a “progressive evangelical” | multi- volume set | Amazon |
![]() | Boice, James Mont- gomery / Foundations of the Christian Faith | Reformed Presbyterian, championed inerrancy | Boice founded Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals | Amazon |
![]() | Buswell, James / A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion | Reformed Presbyterian, held to mid-trib rapture | Buswell was WWI chaplain: premill, mid tribulationalist | Amazon |
![]() | Calvin, John / Institutes of the Christian Religion | “Calvinism” characterizes Presbyterian and Reformed churches | started writing at 26, revised until his death at age 54 | Amazon |
![]() | Chafer, Lewis Sperry / Systematic Theology | Premillennial, pretribulation, dispensationist | 8-vol. and 4-vol versions; found Dallas Theological Seminary | Amazon |
![]() | Culver, Robert / Systematic Theology | Reformed | “bold, comprehensive” – R. Albert Mohler | Amazon |
![]() | Erickson, Millard / Christian Theology | Baptist, conservative, evangelical | seminary-level | Amazon |
![]() | Erickson, Millard / Introducing Christian Doctrine | Baptist, conservative, evangelical | lay person to undergrad reading level | Amazon |
![]() | Finger, Thomas / Christian Theology | Anabaptist, e.g. Mennonite, Bretheren | author has taught at Mennonite seminaries | Amazon |
![]() | Frame, John / Systematic Theology | Reformed, Calvinist, presuppositional apologetics | “massive, magnificent, and biblical” – John Piper | Amazon |
![]() | Garrett, James / Systematic Theology | Southern Baptist | helpful to pastors and those teaching theology | Amazon |
![]() | Geisler, Norman / Systematic Theology | considered himself a “moderate Calvinist,” rejected Limited Atonement | founded Southern Evangelical Seminary | Amazon |
![]() | Grudem, Wayne / Bible Doctrine | Reformed, evangelical, non-cessationist regarding tongues | lay person to undergrad reading level | Amazon |
![]() | Grudem, Wayne / Systematic Theology | Reformed, evangelical, non-cessationist regarding tongues | seminary-level | Amazon |
![]() | Gunton, Colin / The Christian Faith | English Reformed, member of United Reformed Church | follows the Nicene Creed | Amazon |
![]() | Hanson, Bradley / Introduction to Christian Theology | Lutheran | introductory | Amazon |
![]() | Henry, Carl / Revelation and Authority, etal. | Baptist, evangelical, championed inerrancy | 6 volumes | Amazon |
![]() | Hodge, Charles / Systematic Theology | Reformed Presbyterian, forerunner for evangelicals | Known for his commentary on Romans | Amazon |
![]() | Horton, Michael / The Christian Faith | Reformed, Calvinistic, evangelical | lay person to undergrad reading level | Amazon |
![]() | Horton, Michael / Pilgrim Theology | Reformed, Calvinistic, evangelical | seminary-level | Amazon |
![]() | Horton, Stanley / Systematic Theology | Pentecostal, ordained in Assemblies of God denomination | multi-author project | Amazon |
![]() | Jenson, Robert / Systematic Theology | Lutheran | studied under Barth | Amazon |
![]() | Letham, Robert / Systematic Theology | Reformed Presbyterian | begins with arguments for God’s existence | Amazon |
![]() | Lewis, Gordon and Demarest, Bruce / Integrative Theology | Baptist, conservative | integrates historical, biblical, systematic, apologetic, and practical theology | Amazon |
![]() | Lloyd-Jones, D. Martin / Great Doctrines of the Bible | Reformed, Calvinistic, evangelical | link to the right is for 3 -in-1 book edition | Amazon |
![]() | MacArthur, John / Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth | Reformed, Baptist, cessationist | lay person to undergraduate reading level | Amazon |
![]() | McClendon, James / Systematic Theology | Anabaptist, e.g. Mennonite, Bretheren | focuses on theological ethics | Amazon |
![]() | McCune, Rolland / Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity | Independent Baptist | published by Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary | Amazon |
![]() | McGrath, Alister / Christian Theology | Anglican, Theistic evolution | Companion volume: A Christian Theology Reader | Amazon |
![]() | Menzies, William and Horton, Stanley / Bible Doctrines | Both members of Assemblies of God denomination | Follows AG 16 Fundamentals of Faith | Amazon |
![]() | Oden, Thomas C. / Classic Christian- ity: A Systematic Theology | Arminian, Methodist | brings today’s church “the best wisdom from its past” | Amazon |
![]() | Olson, Roger / The Mosaic of Christian Belief | American Baptist, Arminian | evangelical, introductory | Amazon |
![]() | Packer, J.I. / Concise Theology | Anglican, Calvinist, evangelical | paperback usually under $15 | Amazon |
![]() | Pannenberg, Wolfhart / Systematic Theology | Lutheran | introductory, grounded in historical revelation | Amazon |
![]() | Reymond, Robert / A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith | Reformed Presbyterian | Upholds classic Calvinist positions | Amazon |
![]() | Ryrie, Charles / Basic Theology | Baptist, Dispensational | 94 short chapters | Amazon |
![]() | Sawyer, James / The Survivor’s Guide to Theology | Baptist, evangelical, dispensational | introductory | Amazon |
![]() | Shedd, William / Dogmatic Theology | Reformed Presbyterian | A leading theologian of the 19th century | Amazon |
![]() | Sproul, R.C. / Everyone’s A Theologian | Reformed Presbyterian, championed | introductory | Amazon |
![]() | Strong, Augustus / Systematic Theology | Reformed, Baptist | a Reformed, baptistic, classic | Amazon |
![]() | Thiessen, Henry / Lectures in Systematic Theology | evangelical, dispensational akin to Chaefer | revised in 1979 | Amazon |
![]() | Tillich, Paul / Systematic Theology | Lutheran, some evangelicals argue he is pantheistic | 3 volumes | Amazon |
![]() | Vos, Geer- hardus / Reformed Dogmatics | Dutch-American Reformed Presbyterian | recommended by Michael Horton | Amazon |
![]() | Warfield, B.B. / Works | Reformed Presbyterian, championed inerrancy | 10 volumes | Amazon |
![]() | Wiley, Orton / Christian Theology | Wesleyan, Holiness, Church of the Nazarene | Methodist, Arminian | Amazon |
![]() | Williams, Rodman / Renewal Theology | Pentecostal, Renewal theologian | charismatic tradition | Amazon |